Winter Classic 2012: Reasons To Watch New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

I know, I know—you've got plans to binge on college football all day long. And I can sympathize, because college football is freaking awesome.

But you need to find some time and catch the Winter Classic between the Flyers and the Rangers today. If you don't believe me, consider the following.

It's Outdoor Hockey

I'm not sure how anyone couldn't get a nostalgic feeling watching these players, many of whom probably grew up playing the game on a frozen pond, skating around in the great outdoors. As I wrote in a different article today, it just feels like the way the game should be played.

So if for no other reason, give the Winter Classic a watch for the "cool" factor. There is something different about the experience, in no small part because the NHL only plays outside once a year.

Screw the nostalgia—the Winter Classic is a technological marvel

Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated had an interesting take on the Winter Classic yesterday:

"

The outdoor game is a technological and logistical marvel, a triumph of ingenuity and engineering. It is a marketing machine for a league that, post-lockout, seems driven by events. And in the jammed sporting bazaar, it is the most powerful an attention-grabber that hockey has to offer outside of the Olympics, a game that has induced a surprising number of rheumy eyes to tune in.

"

So if the Winter Classic doesn't represent a blast from the past for you, fear not—all of the mechanisms in place to make it feel like a blast from the past for others are serve as a fascinating glimpse into the technological and marketing prowess of major sports leagues today.

In other words, it is a prime example of spectacle-making in modern society. If you are fascinated by such things, the Winter Classic won't disappoint.

It's a rivalry game between two of the NHL's best teams

Oh, right—what about the game itself?

If you like sports for the sake of sports, this one shouldn't disappoint. The Rangers and Flyers are first and second in the Atlantic Division, are two of the premier teams in hockey today and are traditional rivals.

The game also boasts a number of stars, including Henrik Lundquvist and Brad Richards for the Rangers and Claude Giroux and Danny Briere for the Flyers. Giroux in particular is worth the price of admission, as he is currently second in the NHL in points (45) and has provided some of the year's best highlights.

So tune in to watch how the players deal with the inconsistent ice conditions that come from playing the game outside. Marvel at the modern spectacle that is a hockey rink inside of a baseball stadium. And stick around for what should be a pretty solid game.

And before and after, binge on college football. It really is a perfect day of sports.

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